Series Descriptions

Series I
Research Files,circa 1850-1991

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of research files compiled by Leonard McKay and arranged
alphabetically by topic. The files broadly address subjects on the history,
culture, and politics of the Santa Clara Valley, but the focus is especially
keen on the local individuals, families, and businesses that have shaped
life in the valley. Most research files consist of newspaper clippings,
brochures, magazine articles, but some also include privately and publically
produced historical research reports. An inventory of the
research files is available in PDF format on the
Sourisseau Academy's webpage. Series I is housed in vault 1 in the
Sourisseau Academy file cabinets ECS 8.1 to 8.4.

Series II
Negatives and Slides,circa 1850-1991

Scope and Content Note

This series contains original and reproduced negatives and slides gathered or
created by Leonard McKay. A small number of negatives were loaned out by
McKay and never returned to him. Fortunately, the majority of the images he
assembled remain in their original state of arrangement. These images focus
on the history, events, communities, and people of Santa Clara Valley.
Specific depictions include adobe structures photographed by Alice Hare,
historic commercial buildings such as the New Century Block, and industrial
and commercial enterprises like the Food Machinery Corporation. There are
also numerous portraits of individuals, families, and business leaders noted
for their contributions to industry, commerce, culture in the Santa Clara
Valley. An inventory of the
negatives and slides is available in PDF format on
the Sourisseau Academy's webpage. Series II is located in vault 2 for
cold storage, in the Gordon panoramic negatives cabinet 3

Series III
Scrapbooks and Records,
1793-1852
1860-1983

Scope and Content Note

The items in this series were constructed and gathered to document aspects of
history, culture and civil governance in San José. Boxes one to four
contain scrapbooks created solely by local historian Hank Calloway. Boxes
five and six house scrapbooks created by individuals such as Leonard McKay,
Hank Calloway, John D. Crummey, and Ernie Renzel. Box seven contains a set
of abridged minutes for the San José Common Council, created by
former San José Fire Department Chief, Lawrence A. Campbell. These
records duplicate every meeting minute Campbell could locate that addressed
business concerning the city fire department or fire prevention. Box eight
houses copied translations of Spanish and Mexican legal records produced by
the juzgado during the pueblo era of San José. These records were
originally translated and edited by Paul D. Nathan in 1966. Series III is
housed in vault 1 on the Sourisseau Academy shelf range 34, shelves 34C.3 to
34C.6.